Improvement in car-starters



J. HILL. Oar-Starter.

No. 222,906. Patehted Dec. 23,1879.

N- PETERS. PflOTO-LITHQGRAPHER. WASWNGTON. D Cv ivrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH HILL, ()F WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROV EM ENT IN CAR-STARTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,906 dated December 23, 1879; application filed August 28, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HILL, of Williamsport, in the county of Lycomiug and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in (lar-Startersjand I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of carstarters wherein a clutch or cam lever is brought into frictional contact with a drum on the car-axle by the forward movement of the drawbar; and its object is to simplify the construction of such devices, and also to make them more durable and effective in use, and capable of adjustment to change the startingpower and the movement of the devices.

My invention therein consists, first, in the peculiar manner of constructing the frictional surface of the clutch-lever, so that the same will wear much longer in use, and when worn out can be replaced at a small cost without the necessity of renewing any other part of the device; second, in the construction of the friction-drum and the loose collar surrounding by a chain, of a pulley or roller, over which such chain passes, adjustably hung from the bottom of the car, for the purpose of changing the power of the clutch; sixth, in the peculiar manner of connecting. the draw-bar, the clutchlever, and the weight for retracting the drawbar; seventh, in the peculiar means for throwing the starter out of contact with the friction drum 5 and, further, in the various combinations of the operative parts, all as fully hereinafter explained.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front end of the floor and platform of a car with the nearest wheel and its pedestal removed; Fig. 2, a sectional view on the line of the draw-bar and clutch-lever; Figs. 3 and 4, separate views of the drum and col- The'hubs are further provided with screwthreaded holes for receiving the set-bolts b, which set against the car-axle and hold the drum securely thereon without turning. By these means the drum can be secured to the axle of a car in use or easily removed therefrom. r

The projecting central friction-surface of the drum is provided with a friction-groove,

c, in which the rounded friction'surface of the clutch-lever works, giving greater frictional contact than if the surfaces were flat.

The two parts of the drum are cast of any suitable metal.

Over the. projecting center of the drum is placed the collar, which is adapted to revolve freely thereon. This collar is also cast in two parts or halves, B B, secured together by flanges d and bolts 41.

Between the flanges d is placed any suitable packing or packing-plates e, which separates such flanges a greater. or less extent. The purpose of this packing is, by changing its thickness or removing it altogether, to adjust the size of the collar to the drum, so as to fit closely thereto, but have free movement thereon, and to lessen the size of the collar as the frictional surfaces wear away.

The collar is provided with inwardly-projecting flanges f, one on each side, which inclose the edges of the projecting portion of the drum and prevent the lateral movement of the collar. I

The part B of the collar has a slot cut through it for the clutch-lever to work in, and is provided with lugs g on the sides of this slot, in which is pivoted the clutch-lever G by a suitable bolt, f. e

The lever O is preferably curved, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; but it may be made straight, Fig. 5. It has a curved shoe, h, which is slotted or forked to receive the friction-block i.

This block is made of hardened metal, and has a rounded friction-surface projecting beyond the end of the lever. Thelever is made,

preferably, of wrought metal, and its forward end or shoe may be forked to receive the steel friction-block, which would extend back of the pivot-bolt, as shown in Fig. 2; or the shoe of the lever can be provided with a transverse dovetail slot, Fig. 5, into which the steel friction-block would be placed sidewise, and in which it would be held, without locking-pins, by the friction-groove on the drum. WVhen the friction-surface of the block becomes worn it can be removed and replaced by another block at a very small expense.

I attach my starter for use in the following manner: The friction-drum is secured to the axle D, and the loose collar placed upon the same, so that the clutch-lever will hang down on the rear side of the axle. A chain, E, connects the end of the lever with the sliding draw-bar F, passing over an intermediate chain pulley or roller, G, secured to the carbody above the lever.

The draw-bar slides through a box or hanger, j, and in rear of this hanger is provided with a keeper, F, adjustably secured by a setscrew. By means of this adjustable keeper the length of movement of the draw-bar can be changed and the extent of throw, given to the clutch-lever regulated.

The chain-roller G is hung in a bracket, G, provided with flanges, which flanges slide in grooves of a plate, H, secured to the bottom of the car-body, and the bracket is adjustably held by a set-screw, j. The chain-roller, by these means,-is made adjustable to and fromthe center of the axle to change the direclion of the pull on the clutch-lever and lessen or increase the power of the same.

A weight, I, is hung to the end of a small chain, 70, which passes over a roller, k, and is connected to the chain E in front of the roller Gr, passing over a sheave, l, on the same pivotbolt as such chain-roller Gr. This weight retracts the draw-bar when the car is stopped, or on a horse-car the harnesstraces become slack.

For throwing the clutch out of operative connection with the friction-drum, l journal a cross-shaft, K, in hangers beneath the car, and provide the same with a swinging arm, K, which strikes a plate, m, on the collar, and turns such collar sufficiently to make the clutch-lever fall out of contact with the drum. This rock-shaft and arm are operated by a crank and rod connecting the shaft with a hand or foot lever on the car-platform.

A dust-plate, a, may be secured to the loose collar, if desired, to protect the slot in which the clutch-lever works.

The parts being mounted in position on a horsecar, connected'together, and properly adjusted, when the horse pulls upon the drawbar to start the car the drawbar will slide forward, raising the weight, and the clutchlever will engage with the drum and turn the forward axle, D, a short distance, so as to .give the car a start; and when the harnesswhen the draw-bar is pulled forward.

As stated, the devices for throwing the starter out of operation can be constructed to work either by hand or foot. v

A spring can be substituted for the weight, or the weight can be wholly done away with, and the devices pushed back before every start. a W N If the car is intended to be drawn from each end, one of my starting devices will be mounted on each axle and attached to the draw-bar at that end of the car.

This starter relieves the car from all jerk in starting. It can also, without change in construction, be applied to all other cars, as well as street horse cars, and, when so used, will accomplish the same result in giving power and ease in starting the car.

What I claim as my invention, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car-starter, the clutch-lever G, having removable friction-block i, substantially as described and shown,

2. In a car-starter, the combination of the friction-drum'A A, having smaller extending hubs, and secured together by lugs and bolts on such hubs outside of the frictiondrum, with the loose collar B B, made'in two parts, secured together by flanges and bolts, and inclosing the friction-drum, such collar being constructed to bear upon the drum the whole width of its friction-surface, substantially as described and shown.

3'. In a carstarter, the combination of the two part friction-drum, the two-partloose collar, with packing, and the clutch-lever having removable friction-block, substantially as described and shown.

4. The combination, with the clutch-lever, of the sliding draw-bar, having adjustable keeper, substantially as described and shown.

5. The combination, with the clutch-lever and sliding draw bar connected by a chain, of

the adjustable chain-roller G, substantially as Josnrn HILL. 

